Château LÉOVILLE POYFERRÉ 2016
In Saint-Julien, Château Léoville Poyferré holds a major place among the great crus from the former Léoville estate. The second Grand Cru Classé in 1855, the property has belonged to the Cuvelier family since 1920 and has gradually asserted a style combining depth, precision, and richness of texture. The vineyard mainly rests on Güns gravel ridges particularly favorable to Cabernet Sauvignon, which develops finesse, structure, and longevity there. Merlot brings more flesh and suppleness, while Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc complete the blend with spicy, floral, and more vertical nuances. Parcel work allows adapting maturities and vinifications to the personality of each sector of the estate. The 2016 vintage, particularly successful in Médoc, combined a dry summer with an ideal end of season, favoring complete maturities while preserving remarkable freshness. Léoville Poyferré 2016 thus expresses a dense and deep Saint-Julien, but also very precise in the quality of its tannins.
Château Léoville Poyferré 2016 blends 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. Cabernet Sauvignon forms the backbone of the wine with a straight framework, intense black fruit, and great persistence. Merlot adds more volume and roundness in the mid-palate, while Petit Verdot reinforces depth, spices, and color. Cabernet Franc complements with a more floral dimension and additional freshness. The different lots are vinified separately before composing the final blend, with extractions adapted to the maturity of each parcel. Aging in French oak barrels then supports the wine's structure and gradually refines the tannins. The 2016 currently possesses remarkable cohesion, but its density, freshness, and quality of architecture allow envisioning a very long evolution.
The color shows a deep garnet with still strong ruby reflections. The nose opens on blackcurrant, blackberry, and black cherry, then develops nuances of violet, graphite, and cedar. With aeration, cocoa, licorice, blond tobacco, and fine spices gradually appear, enriching the bouquet's depth. The palate is ample and structured, with fine but still well-present tannins that give the wine a dense texture without harshness. Cabernet Sauvignon brings tension and length, while Merlot rounds the mid-palate and enhances its velvety character. The finish is long, precise, and persistent, on black fruits, spices, graphite, and a slight smoky note. Château Léoville Poyferré 2016 will accompany a roasted rack of lamb, a beef fillet with cep mushrooms, pigeon, duck breast, or royal hare.
Grape varieties: 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc
